Car-coupling



F. J. VOWLES. GAR GOUPLING.

No. 499,267. Patented lune 13,1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. VOWLES, OF NEW HUDSON, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLIN'G.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,267, dated June 13, 1893.

Application nea october 5, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, FRANK J.vVowLEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Hudson, county of Oakland, and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplers; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and 'use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to car couplers, and its object is to provide improved means for handling"V the link, and consists of a collapsible bail, adapted to raise and control the link, and so formed and arranged as to automatically recede from between the opposite drawheads when a coupling is made.

Figure 1, is a view showing a portion of adjacent cars and their drawheads, one provided with my device for handling the link. Fig. 2, is a View showing the device holding the link in position for coupling. Fig. 3, is a View showing the link entering the drawhead, and my device in the position in which it is forced by contact with the opposite drawhead. Fig. 4, shows the'portions of Athe device disengaged. Fig. 5, shows the same engaged.

In the drawings, A A, are the adjacent ends of two cars in `position for coupling; A A', the drawheads.

B B, are links pivoted to opposite sides of the drawheads at b, and provided with lugs b'.

C, is a bail engaged with the links B' B, on opposite sides of the drawheads, the lugs b engaging with the slot c, thus adapting the bail C, to move endwise a limited distance relative to the bails B B. When the bail is drawn outward to the extremity of its movement, the bolt c', engages With the slot b2 in the bails B B, and thus holds the bail parallel With the links and adapts the link and bail t0 be moved together. When in this position the bail can be raised and used to support the link for the purpose of centering it. The portion c2, of the bailis preferably curved downward to cause the link to slip to the center, so that when the link is raised by the with the bolt c by the link d.

Serial No. 447,912. (No model.)

bail its tendency is to j center and stand straight out from the drawhead. By operating the bail in this manner, the link can be held in position for coupling, and when the drawheads come together, the head carrying the pin strikes the end c2 of the bail andvcarries it backward until the pin c disengages from the slot b2 in the link B B, when the bail will be forced downward and swing below the drawhead and out from between the adjacent drawheads, In practice, this device for raising the link collapses instantly and drops from between the drawheads, however quick their engagement. handled in any suitable manner, and maybe handled directly by providing a handle such as the head to the bolt o', or it may be handled by a lever D, operating through thelink d and d', the'same being supported from the end of the car. This maybe constructed by using a suitable rod supported on the end of the car by proper bearings, and turned at right angles to form the lever D, and having attached to the central portion near the drawhead the lever cl, this being connected in turn j By means of this arrangement of levers, the bail C, may be operated from the side of the car.

I do not desire to limit myself tothe position for the lever D, shown in the drawings,

or to the particular method shown in the drawings for suspending the'bail from the drawhead, as it may be pivoted below the drawhead, or may be pivoted to a band around the drawhead. The bail can be made in any suitable form, while employing the collapsible features shown herein, withoutA departing from my invention. v

In Fig. 4, the links B Briare shown provided with extensions b3, forming guides for the bolt c'. This permits the bolt to travel upward along the incline, and prevents the bail from swinging beyond a right angle with the links B B, and provides for guiding the pin C', into engagement with the slotb, when the bail drops from between the drawheads into the position shown in Fig. 1.

What /I claim is- 1. In a car coupler a device for handling This bail can bethe link consisting of Side links in combination with a bail, said bail adapted to break and swing at right angles, substantially as described.

5 2. In a car coupler, a device for handling the link, consisting of the side-links B B, and the bail C, having a sliding connection with the bails, and adapted. to break `@md swing at right angles at one extremity of its movement, substantially as described., 1o

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK J. VOWLES. IVitnesses:

A. HOLLENBACK, L. D. LOVEWELL. 

